stuckinoz Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 My company is being bought out by another same name company franchise. There will be 40+ people joining us in our current location. I have been told that my job is secure for one year & the other office staff person has been promised that as well, but she has been told that she may be moved to a corporate location. In the interum....they are doing construciton on our building to house the new people. (I know the new owners very well from previous jobs I have had + 15 or so of the people they are bringing over) The other office person has never met these people in her life until 2 weeks ago. My dilema is like this: The other gal in the office is being a TOTAL SUCK UP to the new manager. She gets in her car & goes to the other location & asks for work. Saying that we have nothing to do at our location. She corners the boss & takes credit for things that I have completed. How do your curb someone like this? I NEED this job. Even if it has been promised & is in a binding contract.....I think she might brown nose her way into MY POSITION!!! I am beside myself with frustration here. Don't say that I should "Suck Up" too. I'm not that kind of person. Nor am I in a position to just drive to the old location.(she isn't either - but thinks she's still in a management position, which she never was - but took liberties anyway....) Get the kind of person I'm describing. HELP Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Is there any way you could have a quiet word with her, and tell her that both you - and "others" - are on to her? That you (all) know she's taken credit for work you have done, and that if she doesn't stop, you (and the 'other people') will write an official letter and all sign it, revealing her dishonesty.....? "It takes a thief to catch a thief." if she's using underhand tactics, sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.... Just a thought..... Link to post Share on other sites
Enema Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Start a rumour that she's pregnant... she won't get promoted Link to post Share on other sites
Al_Bundy Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 My company is being bought out by another same name company franchise. There will be 40+ people joining us in our current location. I have been told that my job is secure for one year & the other office staff person has been promised that as well, but she has been told that she may be moved to a corporate location. In the interum....they are doing construciton on our building to house the new people. (I know the new owners very well from previous jobs I have had + 15 or so of the people they are bringing over) The other office person has never met these people in her life until 2 weeks ago. My dilema is like this: The other gal in the office is being a TOTAL SUCK UP to the new manager. She gets in her car & goes to the other location & asks for work. Saying that we have nothing to do at our location. She corners the boss & takes credit for things that I have completed. Thats the key right there. If you actually did the work and she is claiming credit for it, then maybe you can schedule a meeting with the new boss and let him/her know what is going on. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 She's playing the game in securing her position with the takeover. New management have no idea who's valuable and who's not. My only advice to you is to make yourself invaluable. Beyond that, anything you do to her, will reflect poorly on you. Link to post Share on other sites
Moose Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 She's playing the game in securing her position with the takeover. New management have no idea who's valuable and who's not. My only advice to you is to make yourself invaluable. Beyond that, anything you do to her, will reflect poorly on you.OR do they? I liked this advice, except for the fact that it's sold New Management short. Continue doing your job, look for areas to improve, (that pertain to your job), and your value will be recognized whether you see it from management or not. All in all, you keep your job, or you lose your job.....how would you feel if didn't remain honest with them or more yet....yourself....? Link to post Share on other sites
Angel1111 Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Most of the time, management can spot these people from a mile away and they typically don't buy into their games. But, you need to make sure that your boss knows what you're doing and usually the best way to handle that is to send an email letting them know you completed a particular project. If that's not realistic, then find some way to let them know that you're the one who is doing your work. Eventually they'll catch on because what you say and what the suck up says will start to contradict one another. Another thing you can do is to start keeping some type of work log showing what you do in a given day, week, etc. Keep it for a month and then email it to them, saying that you thought they would like to know what your functions are and how your time is being spent. It will make you look pro-active, and managers like to know that their staff is watching their backs and sometimes thinking a few steps ahead of them. The only thing I would NOT do is to say anything negative about the suck up. It will only make you appear insecure and petty. Just do your job and make sure you're recognized for what you do. Now, if they ask you anything about her, it might be because they have doubts about her. In that case, be diplomatic but honest. As a manager, the ones I notice the most are the ones who do their jobs and do not create drama in the office. I don't trust anyone who is too much in my face and too friendly with me because it usually means they're after my job. If your new management is any good, they'll be able to sift through the good ones and the not-so-good ones. But, you're right - don't sit back and just count on that. Make sure they know your value. Link to post Share on other sites
Author stuckinoz Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 Thank you all very much for your input. I know that I can't confront her. I almost wish I could. I'd probably be so mad when I did it & I don't want to look petty in the eyes of the new boss. This girl has been doing stuff like this for years. She would poke her nose in MY work, whereas I never entered her territory. I did have a mini-chat with the old boss/owner - (she's still an independent contractor here) She knows what a suck up this girl is & I think she see's it more now & realizes what was going on when she had ownership. As for letting the new owner/boss know that I'm invaluable. I sort of believe they know that (since like I said, I have known this group of guys for going on 20 years) I just need to buckle down, make sure I look & am busy at all times & keep a positive attitude. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesM Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 As a manager, the ones I notice the most are the ones who do their jobs and do not create drama in the office. I don't trust anyone who is too much in my face and too friendly with me because it usually means they're after my job. If your new management is any good, they'll be able to sift through the good ones and the not-so-good ones. But, you're right - don't sit back and just count on that. Make sure they know your value. Agreed. The ones at first who get the attention are the suck-ups, but in a short time, it is well known who actually works and who does not. Those who do the most are not the ones who talk the most. You do not want to appear as if you are competing with her. You want to appear as if you are above the office politics. Be confident and efficient. Be available yet not pushy. Be assertive yet not aggressive. And be ready to give advice without giving too much advice. Link to post Share on other sites
Angel1111 Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 You do not want to appear as if you are competing with her. You want to appear as if you are above the office politics. Excellent, James. You just said in two sentences what took me a paragraph to say. I hate when that happens. Link to post Share on other sites
Mary3 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Agreed. The ones at first who get the attention are the suck-ups, but in a short time, it is well known who actually works and who does not. Those who do the most are not the ones who talk the most. You do not want to appear as if you are competing with her. You want to appear as if you are above the office politics. Be confident and efficient. Be available yet not pushy. Be assertive yet not aggressive. And be ready to give advice without giving too much advice. I really liked this answer best I also liked what others had to say as well ... I would like to say that this kind of person with this kind of work ethic will ALWAYS take credit where no credit it due. Your best idea might be to stop in a regular basis in your bosses office and ask how they liked the project you put together . I would do that consistantly since this girl has lied and taken credit for your work. It's a harmless little chat with your boss. Confirming if they liked what you accomplished that day. It certifies that you did the work. If the girl touts that she did it ., like other posters said ,. sooner or later , the boss is going to think something is fishy with this girl . Link to post Share on other sites
Taramere Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I would raise it first with her - by email (so that there's a record) but not copy it to anyone else. It would be along the lines of: "X: I've noticed you're developing the habit of taking credit for my work. Usually when people do this it's because they're lacking confidence in some way within a team. I'm happy to assist you helping to build up your confidence within this organisation but I also have to consider my own professional role and reputation. To date, I haven't made an issue of you passing my work off as yours, but if it happens again, I'll be adopting a firm stance on the matter. Let's hope we can just get on with working as part of a supportive team." * making sure, of course, that you can provide specific examples and evidence of this happening - as she will no doubt challenge you on that. Of course it will put her on high alert and probably result in more dirty dealings. You have, however, laid the foundation (should acrimony between you become more blatant in the future) to show that you tried to deal with this discreetly, directly and honestly with her rather than running straight to management. Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds&Rust Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Whenever some combination of impropriety and personal obnoxiousness is involved, you have to work to separate feeling professionally slighted and feeling peeved. The personal feelings need to disappear so that you don't blow it. The previous post is a great start. Documenting on your own specific incidents of her being unprofessional (taking credit for others work, driving around town between locations when she should be working, etc.) would be helpful only if it ever did come down to a you-vs-them situation. Link to post Share on other sites
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